State House Takeout: Recent Episodes
State House News Service
State House Takeout is the News Service's weekly podcast offering bite-sized insights from reporters, legislators, and newsmakers on top of Beacon Hill. Find all the episodes on SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher. The podcast is hosted by Sam Doran and produced by Chris Van Buskirk.
The annual state budget process moved into the next stage this week with the release of the House Ways and Means fiscal year 2022 proposal. With many factors looming over state spending -- policy changes from the Biden administration, billions in federal aid dollars, and an evolving revenue picture -- the News Service's Chris Lisinski talks with Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation Executive Vice President Doug Howgate and Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center Policy Analyst Monique Ching to dive into how House lawmakers are suggesting the state spend $47.65 billion. Tune into this week's "State House Takeout" to hear about surprises in the House Ways and Means proposal, impact of revenue outlooks, and gaps in the spending recommendations.
Advocates and public officials alike have been pushing for the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines even before the state announced its vaccination plan. On this week's "State House Takeout," reporter Katie Lannan sits down with Dr. Atyia Martin and Eva Millona of the Vaccine Equity Now! Coalition to discuss the group's demands and how the state can fairly get shots into residents' arms.
As the one-year anniversary approaches of Massachusetts' COVID-19 state of emergency, the SHNS reporters recount their memories from March 2020, recap the news of this week, and look ahead to the vaccination outlook for March 2021.
After the state's vaccine appointment website crashed the day that approximately 1 million residents became newly-eligible for shots, Gov. Charlie Baker took to GBH on Thursday to say his "hair is on fire about the whole thing." On this week's "State House Takeout," GBH's Mike Deehan, the Boston Herald's Erin Tiernan, and SHNS' Katie Lannan and Sam Doran round up the latest vaccination news.
On this week's "State House Takeout," reporter Chris Lisinski dives into new election reform efforts and legislation with Sen. Cynthia Creem and MassVOTE Policy and Communications Manager Alex Psilakis. Tune in this week to hear about the senator's new bill, dubbed the VOTES Act, the effort to implement same-day voter registration, and make voting by mail permanent in Massachusetts.
Wondering how lobbyists manage to serve their clients during a pandemic where face-to-face interactions have been forced into the virtual realm? Ben Fierro of Lynch & Fierro, LLP joins State House News Service's Matt Murphy on this week's "State House Takeout" to talk about the pandemic's impact on the lobbying world and what it's been like to keep an eye on and in contact with legislators from afar. Fierro is a 40-year veteran of the lobbying world and first started on Beacon Hill in 1981 when former Gov. Ed King was in office.
On this week's "State House Takeout", reporter Katie Lannan sits down with MassBudget President Marie-Frances Rivera and Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation Executive Vice President Doug Howgate for a close look at Gov. Charlie Baker's fiscal 2022 budget, what people should be paying attention to, and how the spending plan affects K-12 education.
A class of 19 new lawmakers joined the Legislature this month and many of them have only known lawmaking during the COVID-19 era where a large majority of House and Senate functions have been pushed into the virtual realm. On this week's "State House Takeout," hear from two of the new legislators, Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) and Rep. Meg Kilcoyne (D-Northborough) on what it's like to arrive at the State House virtually.
On this week's State House Takeout, join reporters Matt Murphy, Katie Lannan, Colin Young, and Chris Lisinski as they break down the start of the 2021-2022 session, vaccination rollout efforts, the latest on the climate and emissions bill, and the security situation at the State House ahead of the Presidential Inauguration next week.
With only hours remaining in a year that drastically reshaped all of our lives, the State House News Service crew sits down to reflect on the top stories of 2020. From a reckoning on race to former Speaker Robert DeLeo stepping down and a historically late budget to service cuts at the MBTA, the pandemic has touched every aspect of life and state government. For the last time in 2020, listen to this week's "State House Takeout" to revisit the most impactful events of the year as determined by the journalists on top of Beacon Hill.
Weekly Roundup - Top 10 Stories of 2020: https://www.statehousenews.com/news/20202708
All signs point to House Speaker Robert DeLeo exiting his post on Beacon Hill after he filed a disclosure form revealing his plans to negotiate employment opportunities with his alma mater, Northeastern University. State House News Service's Sam Doran breaks down the latest developments with SHNS's Matt Murphy and the Boston Globe's Matt Stout on this week's "State House Takeout."
With Gov. Charlie Baker rolling back the state's reopening plan and issuing new COVID-19 guidance, retail store capacity limits have been cut and restaurant patrons will have to vacate their tables after 90 minutes. The State House News Service's Sam Doran talks to Retailers Association of Massachusetts President Jon Hurst and Massachusetts Restaurant Association President Bob Luz on this week's "State House Takeout" to break down how the orders affect dining locales and local shops
With 32 days remaining until the legislative session ends on Jan. 5, the branches sprung into action on two closely watched bills this week: policing reform and the five-month-overdue state budget. On this week's "State House Takeout," the News Service's Sam Doran talks with Shira Schoenberg of CommonWealth, Steve Brown of WBUR, and the News Service's Matt Murphy about what happened this week and what's left to tackle as the final month of the 2019-2020 session kicks off.
Budget talk never dies, it just fades away for a few months. With COVID-19 scrambling the timeline for pretty much everything, the passage of a fiscal 2021 budget is running up against the start of talks for fiscal 2022. The State House News Service's Katie Lannan checks-in with Marie-Frances Rivera of Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center and Eileen McAnneny of Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. Listen to this week's "State House Takeout" to satisfy all your budget cravings and hear two of the state's top fiscal experts react to the House and Senate budget bills and what they have their eyes on as fiscal 2022 approaches.
Numbers are flying around. Reporters are doing math. And in Massachusetts, election officials and budget writers are crunching those numbers during a week like no other. The "State House Takeout" crew sits down to parse through a huge news week including election results for legislative races and ballot questions. Stick around for a preview of next week's House budget debate and discussion of legislative leadership's commitment to debate reproductive health care legislation this year.
Rain? Snow? Sunny skies? None of the above ... only political forecasts on this week's "State House Takeout" with veteran commentator Jon Keller and the News Service's Sam Doran. Listen to Keller's thoughts on how a potential Biden administration might shake up the political scene in the Massachusetts, the legislative outlook for the fall and winter, and the 2022 gubernatorial race.
Every day around 2:30 a.m. Danielle Sicard wakes up and starts running checklists through her head of things she needs to do the next day. Did she miss something? What might she forget? If she's lucky, she'll write a few notes down and head back to sleep for a few hours. As town clerk of Easton, Sicard said she is working 10 to 14 hour days to prepare and manage the general elections in her community. Sicard and Northborough Town Clerk Andy Dowd, both members of the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association, sat down (virtually, of course) with the News Service's Matt Murphy on this week's "State House Takeout" for a closer look at how the general elections are starting to play out at the local level, what election day might look like, and their experiences with early and mail-in voting.
Puzzling proposal or simple solution? Ranked-choice voting is on the ballot this November and it offers a chance for voters to decided whether or not they want to change the way elections run in the state. On this week's episode of the "State House Takeout," the News Service's Chris Lisinski moderates a conversation on ranked-choice voting with Yes on 2 Campaign Policy Director Greg Dennis and former Maine Congressman Bruce Poliquin, who lost his 2018 campaign during the state's first ranked-choice voting election.
Earlier this week, three of the state's top budget chiefs gathered for an economic roundtable to hear revenue forecasts that will aid in the creation of a full fiscal 2021 budget. The news: a predicted revenue decline in the range of $2 billion to $5 billion. On this week's "State House Takeout," News Service reporter Katie Lannan chats with former Senate President Therese Murray about the budget-crafting process during an economic crisis. Murray, now a senior advisor at Rasky Partners, chaired Senate Ways and Means from 2003-2007 and then served as president until 2015. Listen to the episode to hear all about making tough decisions, behind-the-scenes insights, and more.
House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz sits down (virtually) with the News Service's Colin Young to mull through the status of the state's finances, the fiscal 2020 closeout supplemental budget, the conference committee negotiating an economic development bill, and the much anticipated fiscal 2021 budget. Listen to this week's "State House Takeout" to catch up on the latest fiscal news from the House's chief budget writer.
Former Senate President Stan Rosenberg joins the News Service's Matt Murphy on this week's Takeout to talk about his new career as lobbyist, the state of progressive politics on Beacon Hill, and some of the major policy issues currently before the Legislature. Read more about the interview here: https://www.statehousenews.com/news/20202037
Rep. Lori Ehrlich and Every Voice Coalition Co-Chairs Nora Gallo and John Gabrieli sat down with News Service reporter Katie Lannan on this week's State House Takeout to dive into a bill addressing sexual assault on college campuses. With formal sessions in both branches extended until Jan. 5, House Speaker Robert DeLeo earlier this week signaled his interest in taking up the legislation by the end of the year. The coalition and Ehrlich have been advocating for the bill for several years and DeLeo's comments on Tuesday add an additional priority to House leadership's agenda outside of the budget or pending conference committees.
Ranking minority member of House Ways and Means Rep. Todd Smola sat down with the News Service this week to talk about the impact President Donald Trump is having on state elections, August tax revenue numbers, and uncertainty around federal stimulus relief. In an interview with the News Service's Matt Murphy, Smola pointed to the budget as the top priority for the House GOP caucus this fall and forecasted a "tough year" for Republicans in Massachusetts as races become more nationalized. Check out the full interview on this week's State House Takeout.
The primaries are over and the places are set for a full reporters' roundtable on this week's State House Takeout. The SHNS crew reviews the results in primary races for U.S. Senate, the Fourth Congressional District, and state House and Senate seats, and looks ahead to what we might expect in November.
On the latest Takeout, Secretary of State William Galvin checks in with the News Service ahead of next week's primaries about managing the elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reporter Chris Lisinski previews some of the races to watch and issues at play.
Three members of Beacon BLOC -- a coalition of Black State House staffers -- talk about their organization's mission and action points to change the institutional culture on Beacon Hill. The panelists are Black and Latino Legislative Caucus director Kyéra Sterling; Maia Raynor, legislative director for Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz; and Mark Martinez, policy and budget advisor to Sen. Pat Jehlen.
Reporters Katie Lannan and Matt Murphy stop by for some Friday takeout, detailing the state's new color-coded COVID map, the outlook for school reopenings and youth sports, and a look ahead to next week's Democratic National Convention.
On this week's Takeout, Senate President Karen Spilka checks in with Katie Lannan about the Legislature's ongoing work as formal sessions extend past July 31, with major bills in the negotiation process and a budget still on the to-do list. The president also talks about how her chamber has been adapting to the pandemic era, including the use of a lawmaker "buddy system."
Not your normal end-of-July #mapoli podcast. A roundtable of News Service reporters mull over the Legislature's decision to extend formal sessions past July 31 and potentially into January 2021. The corridors under the Golden Dome are still busy with lawmaking, and the SHNS crew has the latest on priorities like the budget, policing reform, and climate legislation... along with a look ahead to what we might see in the fall.
Beacon Hill debate was still underway on policing reform proposals Friday, and the Takeout has a preview of a big topic that hadn't yet hit the House floor: qualified immunity. Three big voices in the conversation joined the Takeout this week: Black and Latino Legislative Caucus Chairman Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, Mass. Law Enforcement Policy Group Chairman Larry Calderone, and ACLU of Massachusetts Executive Director Carol Rose. Matt Murphy moderates the panel, and Katie Lannan joins Sam Doran to recap the rest of a busy week under the Golden Dome.
State House Takeout, the News Service's weekly podcast, is back! On this week's edition, Chris Lisinski talks transportation funding with a trio of advocates: Chris Dempsey of Transportation for Massachusetts, Stacy Thompson of LivableStreets, and Jarred Johnson of TransitMatters. Catching up on the last few months, the Takeout kicks off with analysis from Matt Murphy and Sam Doran on what's been happening atop Beacon Hill, and what remains on the Legislature's plate as the scheduled end of formal lawmaking approaches.
State House Takeout is the News Service's podcast offering bite-sized insights from the reporters on top of Beacon Hill, available on SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher. The podcast is produced by Chris Van Buskirk.
It's all coronavirus news this week on the Takeout because the pandemic has touched all aspects of daily life for state government and Massachusetts residents. An emergency declaration and $15 million in preparedness funding were part of the government's response, and the SHNS crew looks ahead to what else we might see coming up next week.
The crew tackles dual House transportation sessions, Super Tuesday results, and the very latest updates on coronavirus cases in Massachusetts and the state's response.
The SHNS crew has a three-course Takeout this week: reporter Katie Lannan talks COVID-19, Matt Murphy and Chris Lisinski discuss the House transportation funding bill, and Colin Young touches on recent developments with Columbia Gas ... that and more on this week's State House Takeout!
On this week's episode, the Takeout crew dives into the federal charges against Lowell Rep. David Nangle, along with analysis of the Markey-Kennedy debate and a rundown of the new safe driving law that takes effect this Sunday. Stick around for an informed discussion on the best places to get takeout in Lowell from several former Lowell Sun reporters.
The Takeout crew filed into the studio this week for another episode of your favorite podcast. With Matt Murphy sitting in for Sam Doran (don't worry, he's just feeling under the weather), the gang talked about a mental health bill the Senate unanimously passed Thursday, updates to the state's various wind projects, and the unofficial holiday on Beacon Hill -- nomination paper pulling day. Stick around to hear about the exciting plans these reporters have for Valentine's Day.
Some were favorable... some died... some lived to be reported on another day. Many bills' fates were decided Wednesday, and new deadlines were set for scores of others. The SHNS crew looks at where the high-profile issues fall in the wake of "Joint Rule 10 Day," and talks about the effectiveness of deadlines.
This week's Takeout is all about the Senate's climate policy debate. Why did the Senate choose this "dramatic" three-bill approach? How far do senators' proposed climate measures go, and could they go farther? What are Speaker DeLeo and Gov. Baker going to make of what Sen. Barrett called a "radical" bill? And, hey, let's step back and ask, to quote the posterboard Sen. Bruce Tarr held aloft during Thursday's session... "What Does This Do?" The Takeout is hosted by Sam Doran and produced by Chris Van Buskirk.
On this week's Takeout, the reporters dig into Gov. Baker's State of the Commonwealth speech: what he said, what he didn't say, and what effect it may have on Beacon Hill action in 2020. Also: education and transportation themes in Baker's budget proposal, and takeaways from the Senate's climate package up for debate next week. And, a little talk about what's going on in Washington.
The Takeout team digs into packed hearings about the housing crisis and carbon emissions, along with further challenges to the Transportation and Climate Initiative and mounting pressure on next year's budget, then steps back to talk about the crowded, often chaotic nature of State House committee hearings. Jan. 17, 2020.
As Beacon Hill table-setting for 2020 continues, mayors like Marty Walsh in Boston are pushing their local legislative agendas. The SHNS crew also looks to leaders of other New England states for clues to the future of the Transportation Climate Initiative pact. Colin A. Young has updates on long-term clean energy planning, with news on Canadian hydropower and offshore wind.
Here's what to watch as 2020 dawns on Beacon Hill. The SHNS crew previews what we might expect from Gov. Baker's State of the Commonwealth speech, and legislative debates on transportation funding and climate change initiatives.
Count down the Top 10 Beacon Hill stories of 2019, as voted on by members of the State House Press Association. The SHNS crew analyzes the last 12 months along with the big stories of the last decade.
For this week's Takeout, the News Service gathered a venerable band of State House reporters, past and present, to discuss changes they've seen in journalism under the Golden Dome. Panelists are Mark Leccese of Emerson College, Craig Sandler of SHNS, Steve LeBlanc of The Associated Press, and Peter Lucas of the Lowell Sun and Boston Herald. This week's special podcast covers a wide range of topics including camaraderie in the Press Gallery and the changing nature of press secretaries.
Holiday spirit abounds, and the House and Senate finally came together on a supplemental budget compromise - under pressure from the comptroller, a Gov. Baker appointee. Also: a sharp report on MBTA safety failings was unveiled, and the ban on sales of vaping products in Massachusetts is largely in the rear-view mirror.
The Takeout crew takes stock of economists' predictions for next fiscal year, and ruminates on lawmakers' inability to wrap up last fiscal year's accounts. Also: a hangup in setting a special election date for the open Senate seat on the South Shore.
The Takeout team runs down the final formal sessions of the year, where lawmakers sent Gov. Charlie Baker a cornucopia of bills banning flavored tobacco and taxing e-cigarettes, injecting $1.5 billion in K-12 public education, requiring drivers to put down phones behind the wheel, and more. The crew also ponders the fate of the fiscal year 2019 closeout budget that failed to emerge and what pathway forward there is at this late time of year.
The Takeout crew reviews the ethics report on Sen. Michael Brady and the punishment he faced Thursday, along with progress on vaping and flavored tobacco legislation, a look ahead to the final week of 2019 formal sessions, and other tidbits from a long four-day week.
There's always fresh vaping news, and the Takeout crew this week digs into legal and regulatory moves imminently affecting medical marijuana vapers. Also on this week's episode: municipal elections and their effect on the House and Senate ranks, and a sweeping vision for the future of Massachusetts railroads.
In a post-Halloween edition, the Takeout team talks about the specter of an overdue fiscal year-end budget, the debate over inclusion of menthol in the proposed ban on flavored tobacco products, and all the ideas floating around for new revenue.
The SHNS crew digs in to what comes next for Gov. Charlie Baker's ban on sales of vaping products. The team also digests unanimous votes in the House, for a $1.5 billion education funding reform bill, and in the Senate, on a $780 million closeout spending bill.
The SHNS crew breaks down the expansive health care bill that Gov. Charlie Baker rolled out Friday afternoon and looks ahead to the Health Policy Commission's "Super Bowl of health care" next week, where the governor's bill will surely be a topic of conversation. Chris Lisinski details the supplemental budget bill the House passed this week and what to expect when the Senate takes it up next week. To wrap up, the gang previews one of next week's main events: the House's consideration of a major education reform bill.
The Bay State economy, and what it means for Beacon Hill's spending and revenue plans: Colin A. Young shares takeaways from this week's Associated Industries of Massachusetts and MassBenchmarks reports, and Chris Lisinski reports on the first step in this fall's transportation funding discussion.
The Takeout team examines the Senate's education funding debate and questions about projected district-level numbers. Also: a courtroom advance for supervised drug injection sites, and the shifting candidate field in the 4th Congressional District.
The SHNS reporters look at Gov. Baker's decision to temporarily ban all vaping products, and the pushback he's gotten from consumers and businesses. Also: options for moving forward on a distracted driving ban, and Sen. Pacheco's push to add climate legislation to the agenda.
The reporters of SHNS dig into the Legislature's freshly-delivered education funding reform bill, along with the state's developing 2020 Congressional races and Gov. Charlie Baker's plans for the state's two Boston convention centers.
From vaping to voting... The SHNS team talks about the health concerns around vaping that extended to the state Department of Public Health and a meeting of Massachusetts' marijuana regulators. Election news includes Maura Healey backing Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign, a check-in on the potential Markey-Kennedy matchup, and Secretary William Galvin's idea for a new system to replace traditional primaries.
The SHNS team looks ahead to this fall's legislative possibilities, including education funding reform, the governor's housing production bill, and the hunt for transportation funding sources.
The News Service crew recaps a newsy August, touching on the stalled Vineyard Wind project, developing 2020 races, an off-track summer for the MBTA, and more.
Katie Lannan and Chris Lisinski run through highlights of the Baker administration's traffic congestion study, and Gov. Baker's effect on the Taunton mayor's race. Colin A. Young pops in after chasing down a lead on Vineyard Wind to talk about the offshore wind project's latest delay. Programming Note: The Takeout is taking a short summer recess, with plans to return on Friday, Aug. 30.
Heading into the Legislature's summer recess, the SHNS team digs into some takeaways from July 31, the final formal sessions before lawmakers' vacations. The branches processed time-sensitive budget amendments from Gov. Baker dealing with the sales tax holiday and offshore wind; struggled over a routine authorization of horse racing; and failed to muster a final deal on a distracted driving ban.
With Massachusetts a couple steps closer to a fiscal 2020 budget, the SHNS crew reviews the spending deal enacted Monday by the House and Senate, including UMass tuition implications and a large revenue markup. Also on this week's episode: gearing up for a do-over of the Legislature's RMV oversight hearing; the House passes a climate adaptation bill; and Gov. Charlie Baker proposes an incentive to telecommute.
Beacon Hill took a walk on the quiet side this week amid a continuing House-Senate budget standoff, so on this week's Takeout, the News Service crew talks about issues that popped up on a federal and interstate level: Gov. Charlie Baker's meeting with neighboring governors, a holdup in the Vineyard Wind project, and a proposed "offensive" on Rhode Island's gaming industry. Looking ahead to next week: formal sessions are scheduled for possible consideration of a three-week-late budget agreement, and state transportation officials are called up to the State House for an RMV oversight hearing.
Twelve days past the deadline for a fiscal 2020 budget, Katie Lannan and the SHNS crew dissect where conference talks currently stand and what's at stake. Colin A. Young reports on transportation financing conversations underway on Beacon Hill. And Chris Lisinski has details on Gov. Baker's proposal to further regulate ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft.
In this week's Takeout box of choice leftovers from the week on Beacon Hill: Matt Murphy recaps the turmoil in the Governor's Council Chamber over the latest Parole Board nominee. Chris Lisinski reports on the appeal decision on the Weymouth gas compressor permit. Colin A. Young has news from the cannabis world - a CBD foods ban, and updated state cannabis regulations. And as usual this summer, there's MBTA news, and Matt talks about Gov. Baker's nighttime visit to the derailment site in Dorchester.
Programming Note: The Takeout takes a hiatus next Friday in observance of the Fourth of July holiday, returning July 12.
Matt Murphy talks about where Beacon Hill stands on the ROE Act abortion access bill, Katie Lannan looks ahead to the Legislature's agenda for the rest of the summer, and Colin A. Young looks ahead two days to the much-anticipated opening of the Encore Boston Harbor casino.
Transportation and education woes, and a proposal to pump billions of dollars into those areas. Chris Lisinski and Katie Lannan cover this week's Red Line derailment and education funding lawsuit. Colin A. Young jumps off those recent events to report on advancement of a proposed surtax on millionaires to boost funding for transportation and public schools.
It's a special SHNS 125th anniversary episode, featuring tidbits of newsroom history and speeches from the News Service's anniversary party: President Karen Spilka, Speaker Robert DeLeo, press corps dean Peter Lucas, and Shelly Cohen of the Globe's editorial page.
Katie Lannan runs through the Beacon Hill holdup of a compromise charter school plan for New Bedford. Matt Murphy talks about the growing conversation around legal sports betting. And Chris Lisinski has an updated timeline for the Weymouth gas compressor station permit appeal process.
The SHNS crew reviews this week's Senate budget debate and highlights a few amendments related to school transportation, education funding, and combating hate crimes in Massachusetts. Matt Murphy has details on State House protests that escalated by Thursday into a war of words with Speaker Robert DeLeo.
Chris Lisinski reports on the appeal hearing over the air quality permit for the proposed Weymouth gas compressor site and the state's 11th-hour release of new data. Matt Murphy recaps the House's passage of a ban on handheld devices while driving, including a compromise on concerns over racial profiling. And after a week of education protests at the State House, Katie Lannan looks ahead to a possible June release of a proposal to overhaul the state's education funding formulas.
The News Service crew looks at Sen. Michael Rodrigues' Ways and Means budget, and potential legal action by cities alleging insufficient state education funding. Matt Murphy has details from a sit-down with incoming Associated Industries of Massachusetts CEO John Regan.
Colin A. Young has analysis on the Gaming Commission's decision to clear the Everett casino for its planned June opening. Katie Lannan reports on testimony this week about the rising cost of public university tuition in the Bay State. And Matt Murphy breaks down recent tensions between some Massachusetts officials and the feds over ICE detainers.
With House budget week behind them, the News Service crew recaps the week of deliberations - what was said in the House Chamber, and what wasn't.
Katie Lannan and Colin Young dive into a few of the 1,370 amendments to the House budget and larger issues at play. Matt Murphy talks about the continuing Stop & Shop strike, as presidential candidates cycle through Massachusetts to rally with picketers. And Chris Lisinski previews the Senate's agenda for next week, including consideration of a gender-neutral identification bill.
Craig Sandler and the State House News crew break down the House Ways and Means budget, another round of advocacy for the millionaire surtax, and other tax proposals on the horizon.
Fresh off a three-day assignment to the Gaming Commission's Wynn Resorts hearings, Colin Young shares his chief takeaways. Chris Lisinski reports on the state of affordable housing in Massachusetts. Katie Lannan looks at what might be "critical mass" behind single-use bag bans. And Matt Murphy talks about Gov. Baker's stance on late-term abortions, and how the second-term Republican's positions compare to those of his new party chairman.
Matt Murphy has a rundown on Senate President Karen Spilka's tax code working group and the status of conversations around new revenues. Katie Lannan has details from the Senate debate on banning conversion therapy for minors. Chris Lisinski reports on the swift passage of a bill to replace Title X funding for family planning clinics. And Colin Young has a comprehensive preview of next week's Gaming Commission hearing into Wynn Resorts' suitability to operate the Everett casino.
Chris Lisinski and Katie Lannan walk through the action from Wednesday's House session, and Lisinski recaps the week's transportation news. News Service co-op Kaitlyn Budoin makes her on-mic debut, discussing an addiction panel, service dogs and insights from her first few months on Beacon Hill.
Colin Young and Katie Lannan recap the first hearing on the governor's fiscal 2020 budget proposal, and Matt Murphy reports on two bills - the "cap on kids" repeal and a conversion therapy ban - that are on the fast track toward a House session next week. Chris Lisinski talks about rising tension over MBTA fare increases and the process by which they're ratified, previewing a possible Monday vote on the latest round of hikes.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com/.
On this week's Takeout, guest host Craig Sandler runs through the accelerating activity of the past week on Beacon Hill with Katie Lannan, Chris Lisinski, Matt Murphy and Colin Young. The crew touches on the latest in the ongoing Steve Wynn vs. Mass. Gaming Commission saga, the governor's newly-filed housing production legislation, the use so far of last year's extreme risk protective order law and the ongoing debate around safe injection sites.
State House Takeout is the News Service's podcast offering bite-sized insights from the reporters on top of Beacon Hill, available on SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.
Kaitlyn Budion is this week's producer.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit http://massterlist.com/
Matt Murphy talks about where conversations stand around what Beacon Hill could do if faced with another federal shutdown; Katie Lannan reports on the uncertain future of Hampshire College and additional oversight state officials are seeking over college closures and mergers; and Colin Young checks in with the latest on the Steve Wynn/Mass. Gaming Commission lawsuit.
Kaitlyn Budion is this week's producer.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com/
The SHNS team dissects Speaker DeLeo and President Spilka's assignments to their members - from Ways and Means to key issue areas like health care and education.
Colin Young has details on Gov. Charlie Baker's testimony in Washington this week; Chris Lisinski talks about criticism the governor is facing at home over the proposed Weymouth gas compressor station; and Katie Lannan reports on the administration's renewed efforts to pass criminal justice-related priorities.
Colin Young and Matt Murphy dive into procedural rules debated by the House and Senate this week as they prepare for the upcoming session; and Chris Lisinski reports on a push to lift up tipped workers' hourly pay to the standard minimum wage.
SHNS welcomes reporter Chris Lisinski to the Takeout table; Katie Lannan and Matt Murphy break down the governor's budget proposal, and what it could mean for education funding and state revenue; and Colin Young reports on marijuana growers' push for the Cannabis Control Commission to regulate agreements between businesses and their local host communities.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com.
Katie Lannan discusses what the federal shutdown could mean for Massachusetts; with the AFC Championship game coming up Sunday, Matt Murphy talks sports wagering, and some proposals to bring it to Massachusetts; and Colin Young has details on the state's new top gambling regulator.
Katie Lannan talks about this session's effort to reform Massachusetts education funding formulas; Matt Murphy sets the stage for coming climate change proposals; and Colin Young reports on the latest in the Steve Wynn sexual misconduct investigation.
Katie Lannan, Matt Murphy, and Colin Young run through this week's action as another biennium began on Beacon Hill, including the vote for House speaker, Senate President Karen Spilka's agenda-setting speech, and Gov. Charlie Baker's second inauguration. The SHNS crew also looks ahead to what's coming up later in January.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com.
Katie Lannan, Matt Murphy, and Colin A. Young discuss the top 10 #mapoli stories of 2018, as voted on by the reporters of the State House press corps, and preview next week's action from final sessions of the 190th General Court to inaugural activities for the new term.
Matt Murphy details the process that led to the revival of a short-term housing rental regulation bill that has languished in legislative purgatory since this summer; Katie Lannan provides an update on the House and Senate's back-and-forth over legislation related to benefits for locked-out National Grid gas workers; and Colin Young runs through other bills the branches are working to finish before the 190th General Court comes to a close.
Colin Young recaps lawmakers' concerns from this week's natural gas safety oversight hearing; Matt Murphy talks about the departure of MBTA General Manager Luis Ramirez; and Katie Lannan brings up a lingering question from the release of a report on the future of Massachusetts transportation.
Katie Lannan has highlights from representatives' farewell speeches; Colin Young covers this week's consensus revenue hearing as lawmakers look ahead to fiscal 2020; and Matt Murphy talks about testimony and action this week on bills affecting the National Grid lockout.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com.
Matt Murphy looks at MassGOP Chairwoman Kirsten Hughes' legacy and some of the candidates to succeed her; Katie Lannan talks about the unveiling of a new, specialized unit at South Bay jail and what it could mean for future reform; and Colin Young previews next week's fiscal 2020 consensus revenue hearing.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com.
Katie Lannan has the latest on supporters pushing for passage of Gov. Charlie Baker's housing production bill during informal sessions; Colin A. Young reports on new opioid overdose data and the epidemic's effect on the business community; and Matt Murphy gives an update on gas work in the Merrimack Valley and legislative oversight hearings into the Columbia Gas explosions.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com.
Where do we go from here? Katie Lannan and Matt Murphy look ahead to what's next after the 2018 elections, with takes on the governor's race, Question 1 results, and local legislative races. And Colin A. Young gives the latest update on the Gaming Commission's investigation into Steve Wynn -- and why release of the final report has been delayed.
Preparing for next week's general election, Colin Young and Matt Murphy dig into state House and Senate races they'll be following on Tuesday night, and Matt offers a historical comparison for the gubernatorial poll numbers that came out this week.
Matt Murphy covers this week's latest news on the National Grid gas worker lockout; Katie Lannan reports on the reemergence of the Legislature's civics education bill; and Colin A. Young has details on an inside power struggle at the top tiers of state government.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com.
Colin A. Young recaps a moment from this week's gubernatorial debate and looks at its effect on the Baker and Gonzalez campaigns; Katie Lannan reports on the number of younger Millennial candidates in this year's races; and Matt Murphy gears up for Friday night's U.S. Senate debate.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com.
Katie Lannan leads off with recap and analysis of the first Baker-Gonzalez debate; Colin Young reports on state officials' frustration over lawmakers' slow action on spending bills; Matt Murphy had the scoop Friday that Rick Lord is planning to retire next year from Associated Industries of Massachusetts; and Michael Norton looks ahead to what's coming up next week.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com.
Katie Lannan dives into a state panel's surprise review of Question 1, the nurse staffing ballot initiative; Colin Young has an update on "final" approval of the state's first recreational marijuana shops; Matt Murphy has the details on Gov. Baker's speech to Log Cabin Republicans in Washington this week; and Editor Michael Norton looks at the stories coming up next week on Beacon Hill.
For your daily portion of State House headlines, visit https://massterlist.com.
Matt Murphy examines how the contentious Kavanaugh confirmation process in Washington spilled into the Massachusetts governor's race; Colin Young dives into all this week's Gaming Commission news, including the resignation of Chairman Steve Crosby; and Michael Norton highlights what's coming up next week on Beacon Hill.
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Katie Lannan reports on clean energy advocates gearing up for another legislative push in the new year; Colin Young has an update on continuing recovery in the Merrimack Valley from last week's gas explosions; and Michael Norton has a look at the week ahead on Beacon Hill and around the state.
Colin Young runs through the highlights of MGM Springfield's first few weeks and areas targeted for improvement; Katie Lannan talks about last year's health care spending rate; Michael Norton digs into Question 1, the mandatory nurse staffing ballot initiative; and Matt Murphy analyzes criticism by Democrats this week of Gov. Charlie Baker's endorsement of Rep. Geoff Diehl for Senate.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit https://massterlist.com.
Matt Murphy talks about where the gubernatorial race has focused during the first days of the general election campaign; Michael Norton recaps how sitting legislators fared who tried to move toward new elected positions on Tuesday; Katie Lannan has details on the Supreme Judicial Court's ruling on corporate campaign donations; and Colin Young has an update on licensing of retail marijuana shops.
It's a primary election edition of State House Takeout. Michael Norton talks about Gov. Charlie Baker's recent public events and the power of running as an incumbent; Katie Lannan reports on the high number of women candidates for office; Colin Young covers the challenges to sitting lawmakers that come from inside their own party; and Matt Murphy highlights President Trump's effects on Republican primaries in Massachusetts.
Michael Norton reports on the state's latest greenhouse gas emissions data; Katie Lannan looks ahead to races that will be decided in the primary election; Matt Murphy recaps U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's week; and Colin Young shares info from the state's new recycling education initiative.
For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit http://massterlist.com.
Matt Murphy talks about the glut of campaign ads up on the airwaves ahead of primary day; Katie Lannan reports on her visit to the district this week with Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez, who faces a primary challenge from Democrat Nika Elugardo; Colin Young previews the grand opening of MGM Springfield next Friday and recaps the advent of expanded gaming in the Bay State.
Katie Lannan talks about Beacon Hill action surrounding 3D-printed guns; Matt Murphy analyzes the death of the Legislature's Janus bill; Colin Young dives into the history of sales tax holidays; and Andy Metzger reports on how the Senate's leadership change affects the Upper Branch payroll.
Katie Lannan recaps bills that didn't make the cut in the final days of formal sessions; Andy Metzger has details on the compromise opioid abuse prevention bill; Colin Young explains the 36 hours this week that horse racing was illegal in Massachusetts; and Matt Murphy reports on how Gov. Charlie Baker handled several bills once they left the Legislature's hands and landed on his desk.
Katie Lannan talks about new Senate President Karen Spilka's first speech to the Senate and whether she tipped her hand on any policy priorities; Mike Norton explains the dynamics around the surprise weekend layoff for the Legislature; Matt Murphy talks about how Gov. Charlie Baker has been campaigning for re-election without actually campaigning; Andy Metzger dives into the fresh opposition to legislation that's been sent to the governor's desk at least twice before; and Colin Young updates the status of the legal marijuana rollout.
Matt Murphy recounts the budget accord passed on Beacon Hill 18 days late and the acrimony that followed; Colin Young runs down the 10 active conference committees hashing out compromise bills with less than two weeks to go for formal sessions; Andy Metzger discusses safe injection sites and how the U.S. attorney might have influenced action in the Senate; and Sam Doran, recently back from a trip abroad, explains a couple rules from capitol buildings in the British Isles.
On this week's Takeout, Matt Murphy digs into the two-weeks-old budget stalemate and how one issue thought to be under discussion could be putting one negotiator in a tough spot; Katie Lannan explains the House's action this week on energy legislation and looks ahead to the prospects of an energy bill reaching the governor's desk; Andy Metzger talks about the House's opioid bill and Michael Norton analyzes the state of play in the Legislature for the coming two-plus weeks.
For a daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit massterlist.com.
Colin Young dives into the Massachusetts business confidence index; Katie Lannan says local criminal justice reform advocates could soon take a page from Vermont's book; and Matt Murphy looks at where budget negotiations stand, and what might be holding up those talks.
Colin Young explains why Bay Staters won't be able to buy legal recreational marijuana on July 1; Andy Metzger has details on federal charges against three present and former State Police troopers; Katie Lannan recaps the "red flag" gun bill's journey; and Mike Norton looks ahead to July and what still pends before the Legislature.
After passage of the "grand bargain" deal this week, Mike Norton looks at the initiative petition playbook in Massachusetts; Andy Metzger has a glimpse of the future with some potential projects down the road at the MBTA; Colin Young revisits an eminent domain Supreme Court ruling and how it could affect property in Massachusetts today; and Katie Lannan previews the upcoming Sen. Karen Spilka presidency.
For a daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit http://massterlist.com.
On this week's Takeout, Colin Young highlights the health care bill expected to be debated in the House next week and its path to the governor's desk; Katie Lannan has a scorecard to help keep track of everything already in conference committee and a refresher on this session's new conference committee rule; Andy Metzger gives an update on the so-called Grand Bargain talks around the minimum wage, sales tax and paid family and medical leave; and Mike Norton talks about housing and land use legislation, one of the governor's priorities between now and the July 31 end of formal sessions.
For your daily portion of State House headlines, visit massterlist.com.
Matt Murphy has an update on the backroom talks aimed at finding a compromise on the minimum wage, sales tax, and family leave; Andy Metzger previews the Senate's renewable energy bill coming up next week; Michael Norton covers Framingham's lawsuit against opioid manufacturers; Katie Lannan follows the progress of the Legislature's "red flag" gun bill; and Colin Young recaps some of this week's floor debate on an animal protection bill.
For your daily portion of State House headlines, visit http://massterlist.com.
Katie Lannan and Matt Murphy preview the action to come at the Democratic Party's convention in Worcester; Michael Norton takes a look at the apparent reluctance in the House to establish an early voting period before state primary elections; Colin Young details what Gov. Charlie Baker is looking to do about serial sex offenders like the soon-to-be-released Wayne Chapman; and Andy Metzger explains the House's embrace of novel community benefit districts.
Colin Young presents highlights from a late-night Senate debate on immigration policy; Andy Metzger details a Senate amendment affecting charter schools; Katie Lannan breaks down the animosity between some UMass Boston faculty and the university system brass; and Michael Norton wraps up the week by discussing the state's procurement for offshore wind energy.
Katie Lannan offers takeaways from the Senate's Mount Ida oversight hearing; Matt Murphy looks at the first "debate" of the race for governor; Colin Young talks about the possibility of sports betting in the Bay State; Andy Metzger covers the future of legislation regulating the tobacco purchase age, and shares a story of Tedy Bruschi's health; Michael Norton wraps up the week with a preview of stories we'll be watching next week on Beacon Hill. For a daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit http://massterlist.com.
Matt Murphy covers the move by some conservative lawmakers to shift the "red flag" gun debate; Andy Metzger reports on Maura Healey's call to abolish a sector of the electricity market; Mike Norton reviews the dynamics around a package of housing and land use reforms; Katie Lannan breaks down the Senate's effort to give public education funding more consideration; and Colin Young looks at a proposal to ban robocalls.
After a tumultuous saga in the state Senate, Matt Murphy and Colin Young recap the 48 hours from release of the Ethics Committee report to Sen. Stan Rosenberg's resignation, and questions that remain. Katie Lannan talks about Speaker DeLeo's support for a "red flag" gun bill; Andy Metzger covers the new opioid bill; and Mike Norton has the latest on initiative petitions as they enter the home stretch for ballot access. For a daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit http://massterlist.com.
On this week's Takeout: Katie Lannan recaps House budget week; Andy Metzger has details from Bryon Hefner's arraignment; Mike Norton covers the latest in the charter school debate; Matt Murphy previews this weekend's state Republican convention; and Colin Young talks about the end of Setti Warren's campaign. For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit www.massterlist.com.
This week's Takeout from Beacon Hill: Matt Murphy looks ahead to the first House budget week in the Chairman Sanchez era; Colin Young with an update on marijuana regulators' licensing process; Katie Lannan on funding for the criminal justice reform law; and Andy Metzger explains this week's stun-gun court ruling. For your daily portion of Beacon Hill headlines, visit http://www.massterlist.com.
Weekly takeaways from Beacon Hill! This is the inaugural episode of State House News Service's podcast. SHNS reporters join us each Friday to offer insight into the stories they covered during the week. For April 13: Colin Young on Wynn/MGM speculation; Katie Lannan on the Lahey-Beth Israel merger; Mike Norton on Mount Ida College scrutiny; and Andy Metzger on the interplay in New Bedford between an ancient industry and an emerging one.